EDO 2024: The Power Rotation Debate And Edo Central Slot

“There is a saying that if you ever come face to face with destiny, don’t be late.” To defeat a big lie, we must be the big truth.

An act doesn’t make the man guilty, except the mind is guilty as well.

The hussle to attain life destiny is always fierce, but our ability to remain focused and continue to move makes us overcome.

We will not give up on our Mandate!!!

Leonardo Da Vinci once said “The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves.

People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.”

ALSO READ: ASUU: FG Lied, Strike To Continue Until They Have Money For Us

I have painstakingly reviewed and considered the political debate arising from disagreements associated with transmission of political power within the PDP and APC in Edo State.

Let me state from hereto, knitting it from the outset that I am an investigative journalist and human rights activist, an eligible voter, a prolific researcher and one whose aim is to suppress the gagging of the press and undue censorship of anything that falls within the professional purview of political investigative journalism.

I am an unabashed but dogged informative garnerer, involved in human rights and political matters in Nigeria.

I usually encourage christians and muslims to participate in active politics and to vote during elections,not as though they are dogmatically religious, but as a people representing an idea of the national frontier, religion wise, possessing the most all-inclusive liberal moral mandate of exercising their popular sovereignty.

Democratic politics provides the opportunity for representative government which is obviously one of the best form of human endeavours to provide good governance.

Hereto,as an investigative journalist, I have always identified and will continue to identify with governments at various levels to ensure sustainable democracy that engineers the socio-economic and overall developmental strides of our state and nation at large.

It follows thereto that power rotation arrangement introduced by PDP at both state and national levels is indeed commendable and I strongly recommend that the founding fathers and leaders of the party should do everything and anything within their powers to sustain and improve the arrangement at all levels.

Power sharing or rotation guarantees equity, unity and peaceful co-existence among heterogeneous stakeholders across geographical and political interests in the state.

It strengthens our shared political, cultural and socio-economic interests. We must never loose the grip, which is why I have decided to use this medium to add my voice to the sustainability of the arrangement.

However, the power rotation deal has been challenged consistently in time past and now.

As complicated as the arrangement may have been, some political leaders claimed that even though all aspirants from the three Senatorial districts were declared eligible to slug it out, major musketeers in PDP and APC have put in place certain undisclosed strategies to ensure that the best and most popular aspirant from the beneficiary district gets the party flag.

The above assertion by some political gladiators is not acceptable and no value of political or commonsense attached to it; because the yardstick is not known to aspirants and therefore can be very deceitful and misleading politically.

In the light of the above, I believe strongly that the power rotation arrangement should be sustained but PDP, APC and other stakeholders must of a necessity find ways and means of setting rules and guidelines, such that only the beneficiary senatorial district should field aspirants; while leaders of the three senatorial districts are to consult the leadership on which aspirant delegates should vote for based on competence, experience, character, integrity and other factors.

It is absolutely wrong for the contest to be open to governorship aspirants from the three senatorial districts within PDP and APC.

This kind of arrangement cannot and will never meet conditions for power rotation in the state.

The time to face reality is now!

I ,therefore, suggest that the governor of Edo State and Edo leader of PDP and APC, senatorial party exco and leaders should meet to finetune power rotation arrangement by setting standard rules, acceptable guidelines, as well as sanctions, so as to put to rest the bitter experiences of the past and move forward.

Therefore, it is only fair based on equity and good conscience that governor Obaseki’s successor in 2024 must of necessity come from Edo Central. And it will be the turn of Edo North in 2032.

This is the way to go and we must collectively place the peace and unity of this state far and above ethnic interest or few individuals’ interests.

Let me also add that 2024 Edo Central candidate must not be imposed on us by any individual.

It should be the collective agreement between the incumbent governor as the leader of the his party, in consultation with past governors and stakeholders in the three senatorial districts and likewise to the APC family in the state

I plead with the governor, past governors and leaders of PDP and APC in Edo State to consider my candid opinion and/or advice.

They should do the needful to sustain and to give human face to power rotation in the state based on senatorial arrangement.

Finally, I urge Edo to continue to give necessary support to our platinum governor, Governor Obaseki, so as to finish strong, and he will finish strong in 2024, by the special grace of God.

Long live Edo State!
Long Live Nigeria!!

Henry J writes from Garki-Abuja.